Thread: TSA Drug Ring Indicted

http://thestamfordtimes.com/story/511847

Indictments charge 18 with oxycodone trafficking
Staff Reports
Posted on 09/27/2011

STAMFORD -- A federal grand jury returned two indictments Monday charging 18 individuals with various offenses related to their involvement in a oxycodone drug ring that was busted as a result of a five-month long investigation stemming from an arrest in Stamford in April, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The defendants include three Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers, a police officer with the Westchester County Department of Public Safety and a trooper with the Florida State Police, all of whom are also charged with extortion and/or bribery offenses in relation to the trafficking of the highly-addictive prescription narcotic.

The charges stem from "Operation Blue Coast," an investigation headed by the Drug Enforcement Administration's Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force. Each of the defendants were previously arrested on criminal complaints.

"Operation Blue Coast" began in April, according to federal authorities, after the DEA task force learned of an individual in possession of a large quantity of oxycodone was traveling from Palm Beach, Fla., to Stamford to sell thousands of oxycodone pills. On April 8, the DEA arrested that individual, who was in possession of approximately 6,000 oxycodone pills, in a hotel in Stamford, according to authorities.

The arrested individual revealed that he had regulary purchased oxycodone from suppliers in Florida, transported the oxycodone to Connecticut by commercial airline or automobile, and sold the pills to various narcotic traffickers in Waterbury, law enforcement officials said. The individual made approximately 65 trips from Florida to Connecticut by automobile or airplane, carrying 8,000 pills each trip, they said. It is believed the transportation of oxycodone pills began in November 2010.

According to federal authorities, law enforcement agencies were able to investigate the narcotics distribution with the help of the arrested individual and another individual who was subsequently arrested, and through the use of consensually recorded conversations, controlled deliveries of oxycodone, physical surveillance, and examination of rental car and airline records.

"The facts of this case are troubling for two principal reasons," said David B. Fein, U.S. attorney for the District of Connecticut, in a statement released Monday. "First, we allege that this organization was responsible for the transportation of tens of thousands of oxycodone pills, which, when abused, are dangerous narcotics that destroy individuals, families, and communities. Second, we allege that three officers of the Transportation Security Administration and two law enforcement officers accepted bribes in exchange for permitting the illegal drugs and the cash proceeds of the illegal drug trafficking to travel safely, undeterred by airport security or law enforcement. The Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners have no tolerance for corruption in these ranks."

The individual arrested in the Stamford hotel in April also explained that, to ensure the success of the drug operation, he provided cash and gift cards to Christopher Allen and John Best, TSA officers who screened passengers and luggage at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Fla., and Brigitte Jones, a TSA officer who screened passengers and luggage at Westchester County Airport in White Plains, N.Y., according to Tom Carson, spokesman for the U.S. Department of Justice. The individual admitted that, when flying from both airports, he provided cash or gift cards to the TSA officers in order to ensure that he would not be prevented from passing through airport security while he carried oxycodone pills on his person or in his carry-on luggage, Carson said. The individual also said he made several payments, totaling more than $20,000, to a Michael Brady, a Westchester County Police officer, in order to ensure that he could carry large quantities of cash, the proceeds of his drug trafficking, through airport security at Westchester County Airport, according to Carson. The man further explained that he provided cash to Justin Kolves, a Florida State Trooper, and gave checks to Jessica Douglas, Kolves' fiancee, in exchange for Kolves' assurance that individuals who transported narcotics or currency on behalf of the individual would not be detained by law enforcement while driving through Central Florida, Carson said.

On Monday, the following individuals were charged by indictment with conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $1 million, according to the U.S. Department of Justice:



• Christopher Allen, 45, of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., a TSA officer based at the Palm Beach International Airport who is alleged to have accepted cash payments in exchange for facilitating the transportation of oxycodone through airport security without detection.



• John Best, also known as "JB," 30, of Port St. Lucie, Fla., a TSA officer based at the Palm Beach International Airport who is alleged to have accepted cash payments and a gift card in exchange for facilitating the transportation of oxycodone through airport security without detection.



• Brigitte Jones, 48, of The Bronx, N.Y., a TSA officer based at Westchester County Airport who is alleged to have accepted cash payments and a gift card in exchange for facilitating the transportation of oxycodone and narcotics trafficking proceeds through airport security without detection.



• Michael Brady, 36, of New York, a police officer employed by the Westchester County Department of Public Safety who is alleged to have accepted cash payments in both Connecticut and New York in exchange for facilitating the transportation of narcotics trafficking proceeds through Westchester County Airport without detection.



• Justin Kolves, 28, of Florida, a trooper employed by the Florida State Highway Patrol who is alleged that KOLVES accepted cash payments and checks in exchange for ensuring that others could transport oxycodone and drug trafficking proceeds via automobile through a portion of Florida's highway system without law enforcement interference. It is also alleged that Kolves provided "protection" during what he believed to be two oxycodone transactions in Connecticut.



• Jessica Douglas, 28, of Florida, who is alleged to have accepted money on Kolves' behalf and arranged his transportation to Connecticut, where Kolves was to provide protection.



• Sami Naber, 51, of Yonkers, N.Y., who is alleged to have leased and drove rental vehicles to transport oxycodone from New York to Connecticut, narcotics trafficking proceeds from Connecticut to New York, and also to Florida. It is also alleged that he exchanged small denominations of U.S. currency for larger denominations in order to facilitate the transportation of bulk cash.



• Emmanuel Babe, also known as "Manny," 38, of Mount Kisco, N.Y., who is alleged to have transported oxycodone from Florida to Connecticut and narcotics trafficking proceeds from Connecticut to Florida.



• Wilner Castelin, also known as "Castro," 42, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., who is alleged to have transported oxycodone from Florida to Connecticut and narcotics trafficking proceeds from Connecticut to Florida.



• Bruce Yazdzik, also known as "YB," 28, of Waterbury; David Gauidiosi, also known as "Wade," 26, of Waterbury; Sandra Canfield, 30, of Waterbury; Patrick Serafine, 26, of Waterbury; and Bernard Famiglietti, 49, of Waterbury, who are each alleged to have purchased or assisted in the purchase of large quantities of oxycodone from members of the conspiracy, for distribution to street-level narcotics dealers. In addition to the conspiracy charge, Gauidiosi, Canfield, Serafine and Famiglietti are charged with attempted possession or possession with intent to distribute oxycodone. If convicted of this charge, each defendant faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $1 million.



The indictment also charges Allen, Best, Jones, Brady, Kolves and Douglas with knowingly committing extortion under color of right, as it is alleged that each took money in their official capacities from another individual even though the money was not owed to them or to their respective agencies. This charge carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000, according to Carson.

The indictment further charges Allen, Best, Jones and Brady with receipt of a bribe by a public official. It is alleged that each of these defendants assisted and allowed a cooperating witness or an undercover law enforcement officer to pass through airport security with what the defendants believed to be narcotics and/or narcotics trafficking proceeds. This charge carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

A second indictment charges Marivette Alicea, 21, of Waterbury; Christopher Roderick, 31, of Canterbury; Steven Stopper, 46, of Naugatuck; and Kevin Lund, 38, of Naugatuck, with one count of conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone, and one count of attempted possession of oxycodone, according to Carson. Each of these charges carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $1 million.

Stopper also is charged with one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a narcotics trafficking offense, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years, a maximum term of imprisonment of life and a fine up to $250,000, Carson said.

BUt but these hardworking people are all trying to give their kids a better life, where's the compassion?

Somehow we're supposed to overlook and empathize with illegal aliens' for their crimes, but not for Americans and legal residents?

That's the travesty for me.